Editor's note: This is part two of a multi-part series covering the 2020 Oregon General Election ballot measures.

By far, the most expensive ballot measure this cycle will be Measure 108 which was referred to the voters by the legislature from HB 2270. At $13 million, it has remarkably few large contributors. One doesn't have to try hard to envision the healthcare industrial complex taking on the lowly, blue-collar smokers. Since the proceeds of the tax increase go to fund health care for low-income Oregonians, it can be regarded as taxing the poor to pay for their own health care.

One can wonder about the sustainability of funding health care through increased taxes on nicotine. What do we do when it's no longer cool to smoke and revenue declines? If this is such a good idea, why do we need $13 million from the healthcare-industrial complex against virtually no opposition to pass this? Couldn't we have used that $13 million to pay for -- uh, more health care?

This is the official title for the measure, as provided by the Attorney General, as it will appear on the ballot:

Increases cigarette and cigar taxes. Establishes tax on e-cigarettes and nicotine vaping devices. Funds health programs.

Result of 'Yes' Vote: 'Yes' vote increases cigarette tax by $2 per pack. Increases cap on cigar taxes to $1 per cigar. Establishes tax on nicotine inhalant delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and vaping products. Funds health programs. Approves other provisions.

Result of 'NO' Vote: 'No' vote retains current law. Cigarettes are taxed at current rate of $1.33 per pack. Tax on cigars is capped at 50 cents per cigar. Nicotine inhalant delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and vaping products, remain untaxed.

Summary: Under current law, a tax of $1.33 is imposed on each pack of 20 cigarettes, cigars are taxed at 65 percent of their wholesale price up to a maximum of 50 cents per cigar, and nicotine inhalant delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and vaping products, are not taxed. Measure increases the cigarette tax by $2 per pack and increases the maximum tax on cigars to $1 per cigar. Measure provide for smaller cigars (sold commonly as "cigarillos") to be taxed like cigarettes. Measure establishes tax on nicotine inhalant delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and vaping products, at 65 percent of the wholesale price. Tax on nicotine inhalant delivery systems does not apply to approved tobacco cessation products or to marijuana inhalant delivery systems. Revenue from increased and new taxes will be used to fund health care coverage for low-income families, including mental health services, and to fund public health programs, including prevention and cessation programs, addressing tobacco- and nicotine-related diseases.

Major donations to Yes for a Healthy Future
Date	Donor	Amount
09/09/2020	Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health Systems	$500,000
07/13/2020	American Lung Association	$5,000
06/20/2020	Adventist Health System	$396,580
02/08/2020	PacificSource	$150,000
01/15/2020	American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.	$50,000
01/11/2020	Sky Lakes Medical Center	$352,460
12/30/2019	CareOregon	$150,000
12/27/2019	Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health Systems	$500,000
12/02/2019	Grande Ronde Hospital	$201,400
11/27/2019	Trinity Health	$93,648
11/27/2019	Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics	$857,016
11/25/2019	Samaritan Health Services	$652,560
11/20/2019	Kaiser Permanente - KP Financial Svcs	$919,908
11/18/2019	Legacy Health System CPC, LLC	$1,732,048
11/15/2019	Trinity Health	$169,204
11/14/2019	Nurses United Political Action Committee (12987)	$200,000
11/14/2019	St. Charles Health System	$792,368
11/13/2019	Providence Health & Services	$3,296,948
11/12/2019	PeaceHealth	$1,056,540
10/28/2019	Asante	$904,304

--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-10-07 11:42:14

Last Update: 2020-10-02 16:00:52

The Legislative Assembly shall appropriate in each biennium a sum of money sufficient to ensure that the state's system of public education meets quality goals established by law, and publish a report that either demonstrates the appropriation is sufficient, or identifies the reasons for the insufficiency, its extent, and its impact on the ability of the state's system of public education to meet those goals.

--Article VIII, Section 8, Oregon Constitution

State budgeting is a process by which various priorities compete for scarce resources. Public safety is important, as is transportation infrastructure, as is natural resource management, as are social services. And education.

Some priorities are more equal than others. Not every priority has a constitutional mandate that it be funded. Education does. Driven by the most powerful of all public employee unions -- a giant among giants, the Oregon Education Association -- education funding is mandated by the constitution and state law.

It's the ultimate self-licking ice cream cone. The teachers' union donates huge dollars to Democrat candidates and liberal causes. These politician in turn make sure that education is amply funded. Part of this funding finds its way back to the teachers' union and the process starts again for the next cycle.

As required by the Oregon Constitution, the Quality Education Model Report has been released. Many of the points raised by the report could be arguments for vouchers or increased school choice, but that doesn't really work for the teachers' union. Spoiler alert: They need more resources.

Highlights from the executive summary include:

Oregon has an inequitable education system. The result is that specific student groups consistently achieve at lower levels than their peers. The resulting opportunity and achievement gaps have existed for generations, leaving many students less well-prepared than their peers and less than what they deserve.

We must change our system if we expect to get different outcomes. Our current education system is delivering the outcomes it was designed to deliver, so if those outcomes are not the ones we want—and clearly they are not—then we need to change the system to one that delivers outcomes more consistent with our values.

Changing the system will also take more resources. Through the Student Success Act, the Oregon Legislature provided the needed resources by raising more revenue and appropriating more to education, with the clear goals of improving equity. The coronavirus pandemic means that the added revenue will come in slower than initially projected, but the added revenue is still considerable.

Despite lower than expected revenue, the K-12 funding gap will fall. While lower than earlier forecasts, the revenue from the new Corporate Activities Tax is still substantial, reducing the funding gap to a projected $834 million in the 2021-23 biennium. That’s down from a gap of $1.77 billion in the 2019-21 biennium.

Someday, parents and taxpayers will refuse to accept this sustained level of failure. Maybe they get a pass because of COVID or maybe COVID is the straw that breaks the camel's back. As union members, teachers can't be held harmless. The law now allows them to resign from the union and keep their jobs. Below is our own report of some of the possible reasons why public education has failed and will continue to fail.

Major donations from Oregon Education Association - People for Improvement of Education
Date	Recipient (PAC Id)	Amount
09/29/2020	Eileen Kiely for Oregon (19025)	$18,935
09/17/2020	Friends of Tobias Read (5208)	$5,000
09/17/2020	Elect Ellen Rosenblum for Attorney General (15406)	$5,000
09/09/2020	Friends of Dan Rayfield (14046)	$5,000
09/09/2020	Friends of Lisa Reynolds (20209)	$1,000
06/24/2020	Friends of Ben Bowman (19763)	$1,500
05/15/2020	Oregonians for Ballot Access (20633)	$3,000
05/14/2020	Laurie for Oregon (20178)	$25,000
05/08/2020	Committee to Elect Shemia Fagan (14993)	$15,000
05/04/2020	Christina Stephenson for Oregon (18555)	$1,000
05/04/2020	Oregonians for Ballot Access (20633)	$6,500
04/27/2020	Friends of Khanh Pham (20376)	$2,231
04/24/2020	Committee to Elect Shemia Fagan (14993)	$45,000
04/20/2020	Committee to Elect Paige Kreisman (19452)	$1,000
04/17/2020	Committee to Elect Shemia Fagan (14993)	$32,000
04/17/2020	Campos for Oregon (20099)	$1,000
04/07/2020	No Fake Democrats PAC (20621)	$5,000
04/01/2020	Democratic Party of Oregon (353)	$5,000
03/17/2020	Committee to Elect Rachel Prusak (18850)	$1,000
03/17/2020	Committee to Elect Shemia Fagan (14993)	$10,000
03/17/2020	Friends of Diego Hernandez (16199)	$1,000
03/17/2020	Friends of Chris Gorsek (14515)	$1,000
03/17/2020	Friends of Paul Evans (16508)	$1,000
03/17/2020	Kathleen Taylor for Oregon (16757)	$1,000
03/17/2020	Oregonians for Clem (5133)	$1,000
03/10/2020	Laurie for Oregon (20178)	$5,000
10/16/2019	Democratic Party of Oregon (353)	$1,485
09/11/2019	Democratic Party of Oregon (353)	$5,000
04/19/2019	Friends of Lisa Fragala (19751)	$1,000
04/19/2019	Friends of Ben Bowman (19763)	$1,000
04/19/2019	Martina for School Board (19762)	$2,000
04/19/2019	Friends of Raul Marquez Guerrero (19789)	$2,000
04/19/2019	Caroline for Schools (19827)	$2,500
04/19/2019	Shimiko For Schools (19879)	$2,500
04/19/2019	Friends of Michelle DePass (19811)	$2,500

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-10-06 20:01:57

Last Update: 2020-10-06 20:41:48

On Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, the Portland City Council and City bureau directors attended trainings on the history of white supremacy and its impact on Portland and the nation. The trainings, administered and developed in collaboration with the Portland-based Western States Center, are the result of a 2019 resolution condemning white supremacist and alt-right hate groups that was unanimously co-sponsored and adopted by the Portland City Council.

The trainings reflect the Core Values Resolution passed by City Council in June 2020. The resolution identified anti-racism, equity, transparency, communication, collaboration and fiscal responsibility as the City’s core values.

“We made a commitment to becoming an anti-racist city,” Mayor Ted Wheeler said. “Our partnership with the experts at the Western States Center will help us understand the white nationalists and improve our response to the very real threats they pose to our community.”

“Given our state’s history of white supremacy and our current national leaders’ efforts to downplay its dangers, it is critical local governments like ours understand the threat and take the steps to protect Portlanders as we continue working together to build a more equitable Portland,” Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said.

In recent months, alt-right and paramilitary organizations have mobilized in opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement and government actions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. Portland’s leadership in racial justice reform and community demands for change have made the city a target for right-wing politicians and white supremacist groups, who use Portland as a rhetorical tool for division.

“The alt-right and white nationalist groups go to great lengths to radically intensify division during ANY crisis—creating anxiety, division, and exhaustion. Their goal is the devastation of an inclusive and civil society,” Commissioner Dan Ryan said. “Portlanders will not be fooled. We will come together as one to amplify our inclusive and loving values. We will build forward from the profound lessons of 2020 with shared humility, sacrifice, prosperity and pride.”

“While the federal administration adopts fascist policies like banning Critical Race Theory in federal agencies, white supremacist groups in turn have become even more visible and confident,” Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said. “I am grateful to local experts Western States Center for showing Council how to identify and disrupt white supremacy in our community. I am committed to applying my learnings to eliminate extremist ideologies from our city and our government.”

“I am proud of Portland today. Our city is demonstrating to the nation how to come together and reject hate and violence,” said Eric K. Ward, Executive director of Western States Center. “Western States Center welcomes the opportunity to engage with City leaders and looks forward to continuing the hard work of ensuring our city is safe for all.”

Some observers have noted that for the past few months, nearly all the hate and violence has come from left-wing groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa and that these sorts of trainings are nothing more than a red-herring smoke screen to provide cover for lack of action against actual violence. A recent gathering of Proud Boys in Portland was peaceful.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-10-06 18:43:41

Last Update: 2020-10-06 19:32:09

Editor's note: The author, Kevin Starrett is the Director of Oregon Firearms Federation.

“It was a pleasure to speak with you this evening after the wonderful presentation at Threat Dynamics. As I briefly mentioned, I'm a candidate for Lake Oswego City Councilor and to my knowledge, mine is the only election advocating for responsible gun ownership. I'm a lifetime NRA member and have held active Utah and Oregon CHLs since before my youngest (who is almost 9 years old) was born.”

“I am disgusted at the Dem. Leadership in Salem, and applauded the Republican walk--outs for issues relating to medical freedom, and other rights that the majority party seeks to take away from good citizens.”

“Based on my feelings before we met, and especially after I've had time to process our conversation (and through the recent immersion into this community), I feel even more camaraderie with gun-toting patriots and hope to earn the endorsement from reputable lovers of 2A (and potentially the OFFPAC, too)!”

“Thanks for the update! Hope you're well=) I might have already mentioned I'm voting all Oregon Republicans this November;)”

If you think these are the comments of a principled conservative and supporter of the Second Amendment, no one could blame you. But you’d be wrong.

These are the comments of Emma Burke, a self-described, union backed, “progressive” running for Lake Oswego City Council.

Most reasonable people would read these comments and feel a sense of relief that a person who identifies with the left would have such open and refreshing views. But, sadly they too, would be wrong.

Because these were the comments made by Burke in emails to me when she was seeking support and the endorsement from the Oregon Firearms Federation.

Burke approached me after a class I teach about Oregon’s gun laws. She explained that she was running for city council and was hoping to reach out to gun owners and asked for Oregon Firearm Federation’s (OFF) support. So, eager to see some representation in a City that is not known for the values OFF stands for, I was happy to meet with her to learn more about her positions. That meeting took place at my gun club on August 3rd. Burke and I spent a few hours together while she explained in detail her positions and why she was actively seeking our endorsement.

Except for her claim to support gun rights, Burke checked every liberal box. Her personal history and preferences are decidedly “non traditional”. She expressed past support for Bernie Sanders because she thought his election would mean someone else would have to pay off her college loans. Her allies clearly leaned left. But she was convincing while claiming strong support for gun rights.

OFF endorsed her and made a donation to her campaign. And that, was pretty much that, until Oct 3rd.

That night Emma left a very lengthy message explaining her dismay at having failed to properly explain to her other supporters why she would associate with an organization like OFF. The left was not happy. And when the left is unhappy, a toll must be extracted. Her other supporters would pull their endorsements if she did not reject ours. Things apparently had blown up on her social media pages.

Emma was sending back the donation our PAC sent her and rejecting our endorsement. She was sorry, because she did “respect” us.

I called Emma back that night and we talked at length. I told her I was not surprised this happened. That was the way of the left. She was free to run her campaign as she chose, but she was still stuck with the fact that she had already printed our endorsement in the voter’s guide.

That’s politics. But not so fast. After concluding our conversation I decided to see exactly what was said on her social media pages. And there, unsanitized, was Burke’s deceitful, but predictable grovelfest to her leftist comrades.

On several of her pages she wrote, (apparently with a straight face)

“Today, I removed an endorsement post and will be returning funds to an organization whose values don't align with mine. I'm very appreciative to those who brought this to my attention. I've learned a valuable lesson through this and vow to vet folks who offer endorsements from now on.”

The replies to her brazen, bald face lies were the fawning, gushing responses of her liberal followers who were in awe of her bravery and conviction. (Although there were a few that wondered how she could make such a terrible mistake.) The sheer absurdity of the idea that OFF had “offered” an endorsement that was not actively sought and requested seem to occur to none of the social justice warriors who responded to her nonsense.

“Lana LaMuse” wrote, “It takes a strong moral code to stay true to self and community in such uncertain times. Your willingness to question and reevaluate is refreshing!”

Lynn Peterson (that Lynn Peterson) said “ Thank you Emma”.

Megan Barella posted “Thank you Emma Leigh Burke for your integrity.”

And on and on. Of course, at no point did Burke ever feel the need to tell the truth. That she had sought out OFF’s support and endorsement. That she had lied to obtain it or that she damn well knew what our “values” were, and that we did not “offer” an endorsement. That it was comical to think that she should be “vetting” OFF when she was the person asking for support from an organization that is over 20 years old and well known for its no compromise positions.

But, this is the state of liberal mind. Lie if you think it will help you. If that fails, and your comrades attack you, lie about lying. And gladly and unapologetically accept the fawning accolades of the people who still buy your lies even when the truth has been exposed.

There is no question that OFF was sold a bill of goods. We clearly made a mistake. Granted, this emailed line from her was pretty convincing:

“As an elected official, I'll have greater influence and audience to help advocate for gun rights than I currently do as a regular citizen, and I believe that platform, combined with my status as a mom, and survivor of a violent sexual assault (which I truly believe would not have occured if I had been armed) will help further the cause.”

But at least when we’ve been had, we admit it.


--Kevin Starrett, Director, Oregon Firearms Federation

Post Date: 2020-10-06 11:28:02

Last Update: 2020-10-06 17:47:26

The Oregon State Police, Firearms Instant Check System (FICS) reports a 57% increase as of the end of September over the same period last year. That’s 310,570 people buying firearms this year.

In step with the Governor’s COVID-19 shut down in March, gun sales went from a modest increase to a 78% jump. Staying around that level until the special session in June calling for police restrictions, sales increased to 107%. Oregon Firearms Federation reported 5000 people waiting in the “queue” for a background check. The increases have continued at 49% last month.

In March, FICS began temporarily discontinuing phone transactions and shifted resources toward online submissions to expedite the process. While gun sales are at an all-time high, Oregon’s FICS for background checks is in the worst shape ever as 65% of the employees work from home with no reliable access to the system and no cell phone access to the system. To complicate resources, four background examiners took extended COVID FMLA/OFIA leave March-May, plus two resignations. The remaining 22 background examiners are expected to clear an average of 1,133 per day, a 57% increase from 2019. Of those 94% are approved.

A common reason for delay in approval is a “near hit” on the name, DOB or SSN# typed into the transaction, incorrect information. Or need to update information. These have to be reviewed by the FICS staff even if the applicant does not have a criminal history. There were 91 denied for mental health adjudication. However, the most common reason for denial is from a convicted felon or on probation with other criminal activities making up the rest of the list. Ninety guns were determined to be stolen.

Oregon State Police list their obligations as:

• They are required by law to maintain a system for conducting criminal background checks for federally licensed gun dealers and private parties to sell or transfer firearms to another person.
• They must determine whether the person receiving the firearm is qualified or disqualified to complete the sale or transfer.
• They also must check to make sure the firearm is not stolen.
• They are required by law to do so in 30 minutes or less. If we cannot meet the timeline, we will provide an estimate of time when we think the check will be completed by to the seller.

While law enforcement is being restricted by the majority party in the legislature, violence escalates, leaving many law-abiding citizens struggling to have the means to defend their homes. At least we don't have background checks for ammo... If you can still find it.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-10-05 23:22:13

Last Update: 2020-10-06 02:52:56

Editor's note: This is part one of a multi-part series covering the 2020 Oregon General Election ballot measures.

Ballot measure 107 was referred to the Oregon voters by the 2019 legislature. Senate Joint Resolution was sponsored by Senators Tim Knopp (R-Bend), Mark Hass (D-Portland), Jeff Golden (D-Ashland), Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego), and Representatives Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) and Alyssa Keny-Guyer (D-Portland). The resolution is a response to an Oregon Supreme Court decision which allows the state and inferior jurisdictions to enact campaign finance reforms. Ballot Measure 107 merely updates the Oregon Constitution to reflect that possibility. It does not itself enact any limits.

In the State of Oregon Democrats operate a Super-majority legislature, and much of the agenda for the State is set by them. They would now like to further limit the ability of Grassroots Oregonian's to fund raise.

The Democrats have put forth Measure 107 which "Authorizes the state legislature and local governments to (1) enact laws or ordinances limiting campaign contributions and expenditures; (2) require disclosure of contributions and expenditures; and (3) require that political advertisements identify the people or entities that paid for them."

The referring of this free-speech limiting bill to the November ballot has been largely paid for by in-kind Democrat contributions and Big Union money.

Major donations to Yes for Fair and Honest Elections
Date	Donor	Amount
09/28/2020	North Star Action Center	$3,000
09/11/2020	Team Oregon Victory Fund (19420)	$5,000
09/04/2020	End Citizen's United	$1,200
08/31/2020	Alliance for Democracy Portland	$1,200
08/17/2020	Oregon AFSCME council 75	$5,000
08/16/2020	Kafoury & McDougal	$2,000
08/07/2020	Norman Turrill	$1,000
08/07/2020	End Citizen's United	$14,000
07/27/2020	Voters' Right to Know	$14,000
06/29/2020	Team Oregon Victory Fund (19420)	$5,000
06/02/2020	Honest Elections Oregon	$5,000
06/01/2020	David Delk	$1,000
05/22/2020	Kafoury & McDougal	$2,500
04/20/2020	AFSCME Council 75	$10,000
04/12/2020	Thomas Keffer	$1,000

The above chart of major donors to the Yes on 107 Campaign, highlights a certain irony. This collection of big donors all are advocating for campaign finance limits. No political action committee has yet been established for the No on 107 effort.

For further irony, one of the biggest defender of not having any campaign finance limits was the American Civil Liberties Union. In a Friend of the Court brief the ACLU declares a change of heart.

"The ACLU of Oregon has a particular interest in this case because in recent years, the organization’s understanding of the relationship between campaign finance regulation and the freedom of expression enshrined in both the U.S. and Oregon Constitutions has evolved. This reckoning started in 2011, in the wake of Citizens United. ACLU National came to recognize the multiple, deleterious effects of excessive money in politics – including its negative impact on communities historically excluded from meaningful political participation – and reconsidered its previous absolute opposition to any regulation of campaign finance."

This is the official title for the measure, as provided by the Attorney General, as it will appear on the ballot:

Amends Constitution: Allows laws limiting political campaign contributions and expenditures, requiring disclosure of political campaign contributions and expenditures, and requiring political campaign advertisements to identify who paid for them

Result of “Yes” Vote: “Yes” vote allows laws, created by the Legislative Assembly, local governments or voters that limit contributions and expenditures made to influence an election. Allows laws that require disclosure of contributions and expenditures made to influence an election. Allows laws that require campaign or election advertisements to identify who paid for them. Campaign contribution limits cannot prevent effective advocacy. Applies to laws enacted or approved on or after January 1, 2016.

Result of “No” Vote: “No” vote retains current law. Courts currently find the Oregon Constitution does not allow laws limiting campaign expenditures. Laws limiting contributions are allowed if the text of the law does not target expression.

Summary: The Oregon Supreme Court has interpreted the Oregon Constitution to prohibit limits on expenditures made in connection with a political campaign or to influence the outcome of an election. Limits on contributions are allowed if the text of the law does not target expression. The proposed measure amends the Oregon Constitution to allow the Oregon Legislative Assembly, local governments, and the voters by initiative to pass laws that limit contributions and expenditures made in connection with a political campaign and contributions and expenditures made to influence an election. The measure would allow laws that require disclosure of political campaign and election contributions and expenditures. The measure would allow laws that require political campaign and election advertisements to identify who paid for them. Laws limiting campaign contributions cannot prevent effective advocacy. Measure applies to all laws enacted or approved on or after January 1, 2016.

--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-10-05 11:42:14

Last Update: 2020-10-04 07:51:46

On Tuesday, September 15 at approximately 5:08 p.m., St. Helens officers conducted a traffic stop which led to the discovery of significant mail theft from the Columbia County area.

Jessica Ann Ackerman, 34, was lodged at the Columbia County Jail on charges of mail theft and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Shanika Leann Rice, 29, was lodged at Columbia County Jail on charges of mail theft and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Further charges are pending.

A large portion of the stolen mail recovered by officers was from the Warren, Oregon area. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation and is in the process of contacting mail theft victims.

The St. Helens Police is regarding this is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information related to this case, you can contact the St. Helens Police Department at 503-397-1521.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-10-04 20:26:35

Last Update: 2020-10-04 22:08:05

Further restrictions on those willing to rent to others might not be the most sensible solution, but the City of Portland is doing just that.

City Council Wednesday voted to extend eviction protections for Portland renters through January 8. The temporary moratorium prevents residential evictions for non-payment of rent and other no-cause evictions. The moratorium also allows a six-month repayment period for rent payments missed between October 1 and January 8.

“In the midst of a pandemic and a national economic crisis, with so many Portlanders struggling to stay afloat, no one should fear being put out of their home,” said Mayor Wheeler. “This moratorium will keep people safely in their homes and protect public health while we work to help Portlanders get the assistance and support they need to make up for missed rent,” he said.

“I am grateful that we are taking action to provide renters peace of mind as this crisis continues,” said City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly. “That being said, the County’s extension came mere days before the state moratorium was set to expire—we cannot keep cutting it so close to the wire when renters’ housing stability is at stake. I will continue to work closely with my colleagues and advocate for more timely action before this moratorium expires in January, including a further extension of the emergency adjustment to the Mandatory Relocation Assistance Ordinance.”

Last month, Mayor Wheeler announced his intention to take executive action to extend the expiring State moratorium on residential evictions. While the State moratorium was extended, it does not include the repayment grace period the City’s action establishes. The City of Portland’s action is aligned with the extension passed by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioner. It provides Portland renters an additional eight days beyond the extension issued by Governor Brown on Tuesday.

“In Portland, renters and essential workers are disproportionately those who are Black, indigenous, and people of color. Mass evictions in this moment would hurt already vulnerable households the most and set them back the longest. I’m proud local and state leaders are extending this critical lifeline for renters,” Wheeler said.

The six-month repayment period only applies to unpaid rent between October 1 and January 8. Rent payments missed between April and September 30, under the previous moratorium, will still need to be repaid by March 31, 2021.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-10-04 19:44:32

Last Update: 2020-10-04 19:55:54

The Department of Justice lists Multnomah County Racketeering 1951-1960 as a notable investigations and achievements. In the years following World War II, Portland developed a quiet reputation as a place that wasn’t all that quiet. Scratch the surface, and you’d have found brothels, gambling, bootlegging and plenty of underground characters more than happy to try and buy off an official or two. And there was more than an official or two willing to take the money. Eventually, even the Teamsters made their way down from Seattle to get a piece of the action. A series of articles in the Oregonian in 1956 pulled the story into the daylight.

Oregon Attorney General, George Neuner (R) started investigating the crimes, followed with prosecution by Robert Y Thornton (D) in 1960 with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that took on the Teamsters. The story of that period in Portland was reported by Wally Turner and William Lambert, Oregonian reporters, exposing a wide-ranging conspiracy to take over Jim Elkins’ illegal empire in Portland. The city’s corruption drew the interest of the U.S. Senate select committee on labor racketeering making headlines across the country and become the basis of a 1957 film titled Portland Expose.

The mob-type tactics of the 1950s are again surfacing. Racketeering has surfaced repeatedly through the years through theft rings. Today, it is more in-your-face bias crimes. One of the leaders of BLM arrested in Portland’s riots stated they have a right to reparations and will keep looting and destroying businesses.

Senate Bill 577 passed in 2019 requiring the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) to review all data pertaining to bias crimes and non-criminal bias incidents and to report the results annually on July 1. The first report is a preliminary to a more expansive report, but for the first year ending July 1 they reported 185 calls to the hotline and 273 bias related offenses reported to law enforcement of which 68 cases included bias charges in the first or second degree. The key findings of the report are that race was the most targeted class for both bias crimes reported to law enforcement and bias incidents reported to the hotline. The Bias Response Hotline received a surge of calls in March and April for bias toward Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community members due to erroneous beliefs about COVID-19.

“Bias victimizes the person who is targeted, but it also victimizes their friends and family, and in fact our larger community. Language and conduct intended to divide us can be just as harmful as hands-on assaults,” said Johanna Costa, Oregon DOJ’s Bias Response Coordinator.

Attorney General Rosenblum said, “If you are a witness, reporting hate and bias sheds light on the experiences of some of our most vulnerable community members, and it demonstrates that you are an ally and you will not stand for hate in our state.”

What do they see as “hate?” The members of the Legislature’s Black, Indigenous and People of Color Caucus (BIPOC) are Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon (D-Woodburn), Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley), Rep. Diego Hernandez (D-Portland), Rep. Akasha Lawrence Spence (D-Portland), Rep. Mark Meek (D-Oregon City), Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego), Rep. Tawna Sanchez (D-Portland), Sen. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) and Sen. James Manning (D-Eugene). Without cause or investigation, they used hate language calling Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer and Three Percenters, white supremacist and right-wing extremist groups. Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio, said in a tweet that the group is not associated with white supremacy. Similar to how the celebration of Black lives got radicalized with left extremists, so an article sought out a radical to discredit Proud Boys instead of interviewing the leader who, by the way, is a person of color.

Is their play book, The Masque of the Red Death, by Edgar Allen Poe? Fear is a real toxic thing. It illustrates how fear can alter how you think, how you feel and how people interact. Hate crimes are based on fear that manipulated people. Where does social justice fall on the scale of manipulation?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-10-04 07:37:33

The Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance or SASO is a measure on the ballot in four Oregon counties for the 2020 November General Election.

Clatsop County	Measure 4-205
Columbia County	Measure 5-278
Coos County	Measure 6-181
Umatilla County	Measure 30-145

The SASO is a new law that implements a local layer of legal protections for the rights acknowledged in the Bill of Rights using the initiative process and a county’s Home Rule authority to reject the commandeering of county resources by state and federal agencies.

If enacted, The SASO would impose a directive ordering that the County government shall not use any county resources or employees to enforce state or federal regulations concerning firearms and firearm accessories. Any county agency or employee found guilty of violating the law would face a Class A violation, plus a $2000 fine for the employee, $4000 for the offending agency.

The SASO defends the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. It employs the idea of “Shall not be infringed” by eliminating local enforcement of the many state and federal restrictions limiting the ability of individuals to protect themselves, their families, and others.

The SASO is unique in the fact that it differentiates itself from the feckless resolutions other counties in other states have enacted. The ordinance would punish local government officials who have violated an individual’s Second Amendment rights, which would challenge the practice of “qualified immunity.” Politicians would have to pay for committing unconstitutional crimes and ignoring their Oaths of Office.

Currently, there is a growing trend of defunding the police, disarming the citizens, and discharging the criminals, which will only result in an exponential wave of crime and death unless the electorate is willing to act. A more ominously twisted aspect is that District Attorneys are now charging citizens with crimes for using firearms and other weapons to defend their lives, homes, and property from the mob.

We the people are the last line of defense against anarchy and lawlessness. We must be willing to defend our cities and counties from criminals, looters, rioters, and unethical politicians with the protections and values enumerated in the US Constitution.

The Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance would help achieve that goal by allowing the people to invoke those rights with more legal authority in opposition to federal, state, and local politicians who want to make their own rules.

Registered voters in Lane County or Tillamook County can sign the active SASO petitions that are currently circulating in those two counties.

There is more information at SanctuaryOrdinance.com.


--Rob Taylor

Post Date: 2020-10-03 09:17:50

Last Update: 2020-10-03 09:38:21

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Candidate for House District 8 Timothy Aldal is challenging incumbent Paul Holvey on his 9th run to represent a portion of Lane County.

Three major issues to Oregon voters are the economy, safety and education. Holvey, known as the Carpenters’ Union representative, voted to increase taxes and fees including cap and trade, corporate gross receipts tax, and reduce the kicker. In 2020 he voted in support of SB 1603 imposing up to 6% tax on cell phones to extend broadband services to rural areas in addition to federal grants. Aldal indicates he would vote no on these issues and states he would work to stop over taxing and the shifting of money into non-dedicated funds. He states, the CAT tax is a business killing bill that passes on the cost to consumers lowering the standard of living for all Oregonians. He would work to reduce and repeal taxes not used for the betterment of all Oregonians.

Hovey helped sponsor the bill that nullified Measure 88 passed by voters allowing undocumented driver’s license and he helped sponsor a bill that requires no proof of citizenship to obtain a driver’s license. Voted to require employers to notify employees of ICE investigations, and prevent courts from asking immigration status and notifying ICE. He also voted for firearms to be trigger-cable locked or in a locked container when not carried. In contrast, Aldal said he is pro-constitution, supports local law enforcement and pro-Second Amendment. He states locking firearms is an “infringement and a good way to get citizens killed when one is needed for protection.”

In the area of education and family, Hovey supported the bill to take a child into protective custody without a court order. He voted to include in all curriculum’s contributions from every minority group such as immigrants, LGBTQ, disabled and women. He voted to require mandated vaccination with no exceptions and ban those from schools that don’t comply. Aldal doesn’t support the curriculum bill and says it is vague and poorly written. He also says, “every parent/family should have the right to make their own decisions regarding their medical care based on their beliefs and faith.”



--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-10-02 19:26:50

Last Update: 2020-10-02 19:46:23

Cleanup from the recent wildfires and wind damage is set to begin in eight Oregon counties as county officials, Oregon’s Debris Management Task Force, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have finalized plans to remove and dispose of hazardous materials from burned properties—free of charge to property owners. Removal of household hazardous waste and fire debris is required before property owners can rebuild from the fires.

Cleanup crews plan to begin operations in Jackson County the week of October 19 and will expand to the other counties shortly afterward, pending the completion by property owners of “Right of Entry” (ROE) access agreements that will allow cleanup crews onto their property. The ROE for a property must be signed before the county and state cleanup process can begin.

Hazardous waste cleanup is provided free of charge to property owners in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn and Marion counties. FEMA and the State of Oregon are funding the work.

Affected Oregon counties are in varying stages of developing their ROE forms. Property owners are urged to check their county’s website (list below) or wildfire.oregon.gov/cleanup for more information about the ROE process in their county. In preparation for filling out the forms, property owners should identify their property parcel number from their county tax assessor’s office and collect insurance information.

Household hazardous waste can include but is not limited to: fuel and petroleum, car batteries, antifreeze, used oil filters, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, propane tanks, high pressure cylinders, disinfectants, aerosols, paint, bleach, radiological sources or devices, pool chemicals and ammunition. Cleanup crews will also identify and dispose of bulk asbestos materials when possible.

How the process will work

STEP 1: Household hazardous waste removal – No cost to property owner
1. Once a property owner completes an ROE form with their county, crews will evaluate the property for any overhead hazards (impacted trees) or other physical hazards and conduct air monitoring and visual observations to identify locations of household hazardous waste.
2. Crews will then remove those items from the property for safe disposal.

STEP 2: Ash and debris removal
1. Cleanup crews then will remove burned-out structures—possibly including building foundations—ash and other debris.
2. When this step is complete, property owners will be able to begin the rebuilding process.

State, county and federal partners are actively working to develop funding and implementation options for Step 2: Ash and debris removal.

The State of Oregon’s Debris Management Task Force is overseeing a coordinated effort by federal, state and local government agencies to address hazardous waste and debris removal. The task force consists of the Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS

• Next steps for people whose homes or businesses burned: https://wildfire.oregon.gov/cleanup
• County wildfire websites (will include Right of Entry forms soon):
• Clackamas County
• Douglas County
• Jackson County
• Klamath County
• Lane County
• Lincoln County
• Linn County
• Marion County
• EPA wildfire response
• How to safely manage ash and debris
• Insurance issues and questions

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-10-02 14:51:01

Last Update: 2020-10-02 15:11:20